SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL — JBS S.A announced on Dec. 14 that the company would hold a general meeting of shareholders of the company in January 2010.

The company said it is calling the meeting to resolve issues regarding the corporate transaction of merger whereby JBS would take over Bertin S.A., without issuing new common shares, pursuant to applicable laws; and the reformulation of the size and composition of the company's board of directors

Since the stages for unification of the JBS and Bertin S.A. transactions are at an advanced level, the company and its shareholders are interested in executing the merger and the governance changes before this year ends. As a result, the company is calling a general meeting of shareholders on Dec. 31 at 8:00 a.m., to resolve these and other matters.

JBS said the share interest held by the company's shareholders on Dec. 11 will be considered for purposes of the possible exercise of the withdrawal right related to the merger of shares issued by Bertin S.A. and held by the company, and which will be covered at the general meeting of shareholders to be held on Dec. 31.